Lilly's Story
Click here to read the background on the rescue of 19 Airedales from a puppymill.
5/23/03
Kathie McIndoe owns a kennel in Phoenix and frequently helps Melissa by boarding Airedales awaiting new
homes. She took in 8 of the Arizona 19. Three were so terrified, they literally could not be moved and had to be carried from the van to the kennel --
one of those that had to be carried was Leslie.
6/18/03
Rose McAuliff and I transported Leslie, along with Ernestine, Buddy (Sam),
Nina, Charlie and Grace 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
6/22/03
I spent another couple of hours with the dogs today. I took everyone but Grace and Leslie for a brief walk
and then just sat and petted everyone. Two of my adopter families were out there at the same time, sitting
in the kennels with the dogs, just letting them get used to people. I see small improvements in Charlie,
Leslie & Grace. Everyone else is very affectionate and adoptable (assuming Blackie can be housetrained ...
they have a towel hung up on the inside door of his kennel run since he kept peeing into the aisle!). Sidney
6/23/03
Grace and Leslie -- there is very little to choose between them. Grace is marginally braver than Leslie.
They both love to see new people ... as long as you are on the other side of the fence. They run when you
come inside the kennel, but Grace will eventually tolerate a little petting. They freeze when you try to walk
them on a leash. Sidney
6/25/03
I just visited with Charlie, Grace & Leslie for a while in their kennels.
The kennel closes at 6, so I didn't have too much time to do anything else.
Everyone was happy to see me and you can tell that everyone has been feeding them treats.
Even Leslie got close enough to check out my hand to find out if I might have a treat for her. Sidney
6/26/03
Some of the volunteers want to bring rugs and toys for the dogs. I say "sure." 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! Sidney
6/28/03
I decided to force the issue with Leslie and Grace yesterday afternoon. I
entered through the kennel run gate and then crawled through the doggie
doors to trap each of them their indoor space (note to self .. if your hips
get any wider, this isn't going to work). I then closed my eyes (no eye
contact) and just held and slowly stroked for about 15 minutes. Grace was
leaning into me a little as I stroked. Leslie wasn't objecting, but merely
tolerating. When I was done, and I gave them space to get by me, they each
just sat for a few seconds before going out. We will see how they react
when they see me this morning. They are the only two who I am not taking
out to the training field for some running around time twice a day. For
them, the big wide outside world is a frightening place and they prefer to
stay in their kennels.
I think the three red dogs were the losers in the competition for food,
which is part of the reason they are so skittish. It will be a long haul
and they will probably always startle at new sounds and sights, but I have
hope that once they get placed with a loving home, they will eventually
settle in and relax with their family.
Grooming would be a traumatic experience for Grace and Leslie and probably
for Charlie, as well. I think their hair bothers us much more than it does
them. The kennel groomer is going to see if she can groom Charlie this
week. I hate to have to move them at all, because they are starting to feel
secure in their kennels, but I will have to take Leslie and Grace to be
spayed this week. It will be hard on them, but it is unavoidable.
I tell one of the volunteers: I noticed that Leslie had pretty well mangled the rug,
but I don't think she is swallowing it, so I left it in there.
Thank you very much for bringing the rugs and the toys and, mostly, for just taking the time to quietly visit with them. [See note of 7/7/03] Sidney
7/3/03
Leslie & Grace came through the spay surgery fine. I had to carry Leslie from her kennel to my van and then
from the van to the vet's office, but she was very relaxed when she was in my arms, which is a good sign.
It seems to me that she is more frightened of her surroundings than she is of people. I think that all of
the noise and turmoil of the kennel is part of the problem. Hopefully, she will improve a lot when she is
in a quieter home atmosphere. She wags her tail whenever she sees a dog
and wants to go meet them.
She did have some stress diarrhea at the vet's.
Dr. Lily (the vet) said she fell in love with Leslie. She says she is very smart and sat and observed
everything they were doing while she was waiting. They had her behind a babygate. When Leslie jumped
up to put her paws on it and try to get over, they raised it, so then she tried to get under it ... smart dog!
She was able to walk back to the van under her own power after the surgery and also from my van back to
her kennel. Maybe the secret is to feed her some valium (just joking).
We were not able to get her shaved, so she looks pretty sad. She has a reverse mohawk down her back and
that's it ... maybe that's fashionable with kids these days? She is clean, at least.
Have a wonderful Fourth of July.
Sidney
7/5/03
Leslie, my shyest girl here in Tucson, is in her foster home. They want to
adopt her, but because she is so scared, I told them I didn't want them to
make a commitment yet. The dad (Hap) grew up with Airedales. Stephanie is
a stay-at-home mom and just about the kindest, most loving person I have
ever met. They have four kids: Ashley 11, Cameron 8, Kyle 8, Kody 8, Megan
1. Ashley, Cameron, Kyle and Kody were in New Mexico visiting their
grandmother when I delivered Leslie on Saturday. Leslie immediately wagged
her tail when she met Jake, their 1-year-old Golden Retriever, but was
afraid of everything else, including the baby, Megan. We spent an hour
chatting while we let Leslie incorporate this new world and then I took a
deep breath and left her.
Thank you again for bringing Leslie up here. I just now took her out to see if she had to go,
and she wouldn't have anything to do with going. She sniffed a little, and tolerated a few pets
from me and then from Hap, but was happy to go back in her kennel.. she didn't even wag her tail
for Jake. (Although he is a little too excited right now..) Anyway, after about 2 hours, she laid
down.. but wasn't about to put her head down..! She just closes her eyes for a minute and at any
noise snaps awake again.. I swear she is the cutest dog ever.. I hope this is a good thing for her..
Oh an I saved a piece of steak fat from last night.. she wouldn't take it out of our hands, but as
soon as I placed it on the floor of her kennel... she inhaled it.. :)
Stephanie
7/6/03
I didn't want to bug you about every little detail.. but since you wrote me.. I have to tell you..
I was giving Jake his weekly bath and brush/play in the water in the driveway.. and I tied Les up
on the basketball pole.. in about 5 minutes, I decided to try to get her wet.. and as long as I
didn't spray the water, but just let it pour on her, she did fine and actually got a bath today,
soap and everything.. plus.. I brushed out all that old yucky fur all over her.. she has extremely
dry hair and skin, but looks like a new dog. She didn't bring her tail up once during it all, but
she had plenty of slack in her leash and never ran away.. as long as I didn't spray.. then she did.
Jake is jealous of her getting brushed as that his absolute favorite thing. He actually licked her
ears dry and was helping her.. it was very cute.. she finally did go potty.. after Jake led the way..
Last night was pretty bad.. she started to cry.. (something between a bark and a howl) about 300 in
the morning.. she didn't need to go potty, so I ended up laying on the couch out there all night and
Jake slept right beside her and then she was fine. Then.. the exciting part.. the kids all came home.
My mom brought her massage therapist who works with animals at the humane society in Alb. and she was
very helpful. Les loved Ashley, but didn't take to the boys or Megan just yet.. she actually licked
Haps hand too...
Well I hope this makes you feel as good as it has us..
Stephanie
7/7/03
I have to tell you about today.. Les was acting so weird all day.. and ever since she came, she smelled
like she had a really gassy tummy and I just thought it was nerves.. Anyway, she wouldn't eat anything
this morning and she was cowered in the back of her cage.. I was about to get worried when all of a
sudden we heard this wretching sound.. She threw up feet and feet and feet of strips of fabric.. I'm not
kidding.. it looks like bandage wraps.. it's black and white strips.. I swear it is the most amazing
thing I have ever seen.. if that didn't block her stomach and kill her.. nothing on earth will.. she
has a bigger purpose.. Sidney, it is feet of it.. It didn't come from here.. did she get bandaged at
the vets? Do you have any idea what it could be from? I am so thankful that she threw it up and is
fine.. she ate all her food.. and has been fine the rest of the day.. Jake has eaten a sock or two,
but this is unbelievable.. I saved it to show Hap.. he says oh thanks.. but he too was amazed.. She
is fine now.. Hap has her outside to go potty.. Earlier today, before she threw up, she was acting so
strange.. I had her tied to the trampoline for some privacy which she normally appreciates.. but she
was jerking on the leash so hard.. it pulled the collar off her head.. I was right there and she went
for the wall but I talked to her and said "no" in a firm voice.. she looked at me and stopped and let
me put it back on her.. I think she is getting used to me.. plus she felt terrible and just didn't know
what to do.. Anyway write me back and tell me what you think..
Stephanie
[We determined that Lesley had eaten part of a rag rug while she was at the kennel, more than 10 days ago --
and she went through spay surgery with it in her stomach! Sidney]
7/9/03
Well... Les has a major haircut.. !! Before you fall over, I did it myself.. very slowly and with scissors :)
I don't think she even knew it was happening.. she wouldn't let me near her face, but the rest of her she
took like a trooper.. you have to see her.. she looks wonderful.. she got brushed again too. The funny thing
about her is that every household noise really bothers her.. someone shutting the lid to the trash, the
microwave, the faucet and anything else. She is petrified of Megan, although we keep her away from her as best
as we can.. she goes to the back of her kennel every time.. she prefers to be in there or outside with Jake..
She drinks constantly.. is now eating well.. it took a couple of days to get rid of the rest of that rug..
You were right about her too.. she wants to eat her leash, and her food dish.. :) The kids get so sad about
her, because they say, she doesn't like me.. will she ever like me.. and so on.. I just say that she didn't
have the same life that Jake had and it will take much longer for her to trust us.. It's hard to tell with her..
whether or not she is happier, or if she is just tolerating this situation. We look for baby steps.. like a
snif of the hand.. a tail that isn't fully tucked.. on a rare occasion, a lick on the hand.. (so far only to
Hap, which he constantly teases me about !! ) I hope you tell me that we have made progress.. and that she
will get used to us.. If you are up here sometime, I hope you stop by and see what you think about her.. I
want to make her life better.. so much.. Will you let us know how the other dogs are doing too? And please
let me know some tricks..maybe some that are working for other people..
I didn't mean to sound like I want out, or I want you to come get her.. it's just that she breaks my heart and
I can't seem to "fix" her.. I think something really scared her today, because she is so jumpy.. after the kids
went to bed, I just opened her kennel and sat by her talking softly to her.. then I left for a while and even
with Jake running around, she wouldn't come out.. she is unbelievably thirsty all the time..and she went from
taking cheese out of our hands to having us leave it by her before she'll eat it. The everyday sounds of life..
like an air conditioner starting up, or a car driving by scare her to where she pulls on her leash to escape.
The kids voices don't seem to bother her anymore, just everything else.. I want to help her not hurt her.. maybe
I'm pushing her too hard. I wish I could read her mind and know what is so scary, or what feels good.. she
would be content to stay in her kennel all the time and never come out. I feel like that is neglecting her
again.. but maybe she needs that solice. She did eat great today, that made me feel better.. and her ears perk
up when we talk to her.. I guess what I really want is for you to tell me if this is normal behavior, or if I
should worry...
Stephanie
7/18/03
Leslie's foster family had an emergency come up where they have to leave town for the weekend.
We discussed having a neighbor come in or taking Leslie to a kennel and finally decided that
the best thing for her would be to bring her to my house and let her bunk with her brother, Charlie (neutered).
I drove up to pick her up at noon and am delighted with the progress she has made. She still
feels safest in her crate, but the milling around of children doesn't bother her. When we got
her out of the crate, her tail was down (because of me mostly), but her body posture is much
more confident.
Stephanie said that the other evening Leslie kept insisting on going to the front door
(they have been only taking her out into the back yard) and she finally decided to see what
would happen and Leslie took her for a jog around the block . . . twice.
When I got her home, Leslie was delighted to see her brother and my dogs and was wiggle-wiggle-wiggle
all over the place. Charlie was very happy to see her, as well, although I'm not sure his delight was
purely brotherly. I didn't have time to let them do too much socializing, but it will be fun to see
how they all do this evening.
Sidney
7/19/03
Leslie is doing great! While she still doesn't want me to reach out to pet
her, if I casually walk up to her side and slowly start petting, she enjoys
getting rubbed all over. She is not bothered by noises at all (I guess
living with five children, including an infant, gets you used to loud
noises). She hangs around the living room with Jack, Riley, Rose & me,
while
Charlie
prefers to retreat to his bedroom at the end of the kitchen.
I did the Tellington Touch Leopard all over both of them this morning and
they both stood and let me do it without trying to escape, even when I gave
them the opportunity. I let everyone run around the big yard off leash and
they all enjoyed that, even Charlie. I thought Charlie might hide in a
corner somewhere, but he stayed close by and came right back in the house.
Once was enough, however. On the next walk he decided to stay behind in his
bedroom.
Sidney
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Leslie (left) and Charlie
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I haven't been able to get any good pictures yet. They don't like having
the camera pointed at them. Here's one of them sharing a crate and one of
them snoozing in their crates side by side (the angle is weird because I had
to sneak up on them).
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Charlie (left) and Leslie
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On 7/22/03, Leslie returned to the foster home
More about Southwest Airedale Terrier Rescue
