Gracie's Story
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to read the background on the rescue of 19 Airedales from a puppymill.
5/23/03
Ernestine was one of the 8 taken in by Kathie McIndoe, who owns a kennel in Phoenix and frequently helps Melissa.
6/3/03
One black bitch is getting up there in age.
She's overweight and placid and her greatest interest in life is food. Kathy
6/16/03
Audrey, who adopted
Maggie,
reports that Ernestine is
the one she likes the most next to Maggie. She is the most friendly and really wants
attention. This is the one that didn't like Kathy's Lakeland. Again, I really liked her.
She would be a sweet companion to someone, eager to please and knows some
commands -- and she got along well with her "sisters". She sat when asked to and when
told to leave my stuff alone, listened and obeyed immediately. Also stopped
barking at the Wheatons when told to.
6/18/03
Rose McAuliff and I transported Ernestine, Buddy (Sam), Nina,
Charlie, Grace and Leslie from Kathie McIndoe's kennel in Phoenix to a kennel in Tucson. Many volunteers in Tucson
then went to the kennel whenever they had time to help socialize the dogs. I especially want to than Catherine and John Dittmar;
Cathy Matt & her boyfriend, Phil; Vicki Richards and Karen Burhenn. I know that others helped without even letting me know and
I truly appreciate it.
Sidney
6/19/03
I love Ernestine ... she isn't bad on the leash and is just a lovely,
confident Airedale. She looks better in "person" than she does in her
picture and I will try to get a better shot of her. She does well with her
pack and most other dogs, but apparently she tried to murder Kathy's
Lakeland (the kennel owner in Phoenix) and went through a fence after
another dog, so it is going to be an individual thing as to whether she can
be placed with another dog and I assume no cats.
Sidney
6/20/03
Ernestine could be placed as soon as I can get her spayed (my
rescue-friendly vet is swamped, so I'm only able to get a couple of dogs in
a week).
Sidney
6/21/03
Ernestine is a great dog. Pulls on the leash, but isn't at all nervous.
It's hard to put an age on her. Her body is thick from many puppies and
being overweight, but her face and actions are young. Her teeth in front
are worn down, but otherwise strong and white (they all have great teeth).
She has goopy eyes, so is allergic to something, but there is no evidence
of itchy skin. I guess I would stick with approximately 8 years old, but
in very good shape for that age.
Sidney
6/23/03
I had another good visit with the Airedales this afternoon. Ernestine,
Buddy, Blackie and Nina all sit while I put their collars on to take them
out for a walk. Ernestine had a great roll in the grass out on the training
field ... you can really see dried grass on a black coat!! She chased a
ball a couple of times and, just like most Airedales, didn't bring it back
;->
She also found a nice big leather bone someone had left behind which
she thought she would like to lie down and chew. Unfortunately, I didn't
have time to let her enjoy it fully.
Sidney
6/26/03
I asked the vet to check Ernestine's eyes because she has an excessive amount of mucousy discharge.
The vet's office just called and said Ernestine has an entropian eyelid (rolled inward), which is
causing the hairs of her eyelid to rub against the eye, which makes them water. Ernestine also has
two mammary tumors, which will be removed.
Please send Zen that the tumors are benign and that everything will go smoothly.
Ernestine and Buddy both look great. The groomer at the kennel gave them baths and trims since
they won't be able to get wet for 10 days after the surgery.
Sidney
6/27/03
Auntie Lydia's salmon carrot cookies arrived in the mail yesterday,
so I took them with me this morning on my visit to the kidz
(after doling out one each to Jack, Riley & Rose, who threatened to
bar the door when it looked like I was thinking of leaving without
sharing the goodies). Well, I'm sure you can imagine the pandemonium
on my arrival. Even Leslie almost let me touch her in order to get that cookie!
Ernestine and Buddy got a few extra to make up for the fact the other kids were
calling them nasty names like "bucket-head" and "zipper ear" and "scar face."
Ernestine has the most fetching pink stitches in her lower eyelid, which are
very attractive against her black coat. Buddy, I'm afraid, is rather a mess
of stitches, tape and glue to keep the edge of his ear together while it heals.
However, they are doing well and have learned how to negotiate the doggie
door without running into the edges with the e-collar. Everyone (except Grace &
Leslie) got their turn in the training field and had a good time running around.
Sidney
6/30/03
So far, so good. Ernestine acts like she has been in a house all her life.
I showed her twice how to go in and out the dog door and she was set.
She had no problem with Jack & Riley, my two boy Airedales. She and my Rose
(female Airedale) had a little growling session at the babygates, but an
AHH! AHH! to both of them stopped that.
I left her loose in my kitchen with the crate open if she wanted to sleep there.
She didn't make a peep all night. I had put a marrow bone in the crate and a
couple of times during the night I could hear the crunch, crunch as she chewed
on it for a minute. From the way she took to raw bones, I think maybe this
is the reason her front teeth are so worn down. I suspect that the owner gave
them lots of marrow bones to chew on, which does keep the teeth nice and white,
but also wears them down.
This morning on our walk, we must have met a dozen dogs of all sizes and types.
Ernestine was fine with them all. Because I was a little nervous about what
she might do with the little ones, I gave her a warning AHH! when she was a
little too assertive with her nose, but there were no problems. Everyone
wagged tails and sniffed butts & were soon fast friends. One callow youth
(labrador) came bounding by off leash and Ernestine wasn't too crazy about
that and told him so, but so did a lot of the other dogs.
Everyone who met us commented on what a handsome dog she is. She really does
have a wonderful presence.
She is **very** interested in food and will like to supervise your every move
in the kitchen. I left some things on the counter to see if she was a surfer,
but she didn't even make an attempt. She seems to know "go lie down" as that
is what she did when I sat down to eat my dinner and told her to do so.
It will be a few days before I get a chance to try her loose in the car, but
I really doubt there will be any problem.
Sidney
7/3/03
Ernestine is doing great. She is now incorporated completely into the pack
and it feels like she has been here forever. I think that as long as careful
introductions are made, she should be fine with any dog.
Sidney
7/4/03
Ernestine has been adopted and is with me in Tucson until her new owner
flies over from California on the 18th to drive her back home.
Sidney
7/18/03
Ernestine's new mom flew over from San Francisco and picked her up this morning.
She rented a car and is driving to L.A., where her husband will meet her with their
car and they will spend the night at her sister's, then drive back home.
Ernestine looked great! I gave her a bath last night and kept her on leash
all morning so she couldn't stick her head down a hole the way she loves to.
Her black coat was gleaming and I think she has lost of few pounds, so she
looks sleek and young. Connie kept saying "no way is this dog eight years old."
Ernestine immediately gave Connie kisses and jumped into her car without even a
glance back.
Sidney
More about Southwest Airedale Terrier Rescue
