Phoenix'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.
Kathy says
the
other black bitch looks like a shepherd mix.
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
6/23/03
Nina is fast becoming my favorite. She is so sweet and playful and becomes happier every day.
I love watching her bounce around the exercise yard, just enjoying life. She is getting more confident
every day and walking better and better on the leash. She doesn't feel like she needs to hide between
your legs anymore. She will now explore the training yard and trots with her tail up - it is wonderful
to watch her gain confidence. She is very playful and tosses her toys around in the kennel run, but does not tear them up.
She is such a funny looking little
thing and the least like an Airedale, it is hard to get her out in front of the right audience.
Her coat is more like a shepherd than an Airedale ...
very black and straight and shiny. She does have some red whiskers and more
the square terrier body type than sloping shepherd type body. She is the
smallest of the dogs and shy, but sweet and loving. People think she is
older because of the white hair around her eyes, but I would put her at about 2 years.
She has one ear that stands straight up when she is interested in something.
Nina is a natural heeler and comes
right away when you call her. She is getting much braver about walking and no longer
feels like she needs to be touching me all the time, but still likes to be
close to me at all times.
Sidney
7/10/03
When I last wrote, I told you
Blackie
had regressed and was frightened to come out
from the covered kennel area to the open training yard. It got to the point where he really didn't want to
leave his kennel run.
Nina, in the meantime, gets more and more confident. She is still shy when she meets a new person, but with me
she is a happy, bouncy, playful, normal dog.
So, I had the thought ... use Nina to help the others. It worked like a charm. One at a time, Nina helped me
lead the others out to the yard, where every time they started to get a little nervous, they would look to Nina
and see that she was running around and sniffing and they would relax. This morning, I let each one off leash
in the yard. It was such a relief to see Blackie back to his normal confident self ... running around lifting
his leg on everything
Even
Grace
ran around with Nina, sniffing at the ground and gently wagging her tail.
Grace and Nina had what I think was a play session, but kept under control in case it was going to turn into a
fight. You know how they bounce around stiff-legged and put their paws up on the other dog's back? They
each did it in turn to each other and the tails were wagging, but there was also some growling, so I made
them stop and just run around together.
Charlie
ran around a little, but felt safer standing by me and observing the world.
Nina reminds me of those calm little quarter horses they use to bring out the high-strung race horses at the
track, or the very, very helpful older daughter to a family of younger siblings.
Sidney
7/14/03
This morning I was running late so I brought Blackie & Grace & Nina out to the training yard all at the same
time. They had a blast! It is quite a sight to see two midnight Airedales and one sunrise Airedale bounding around
together. Nina keeps trying to mount Grace to make sure she knows who is boss. Grace is putting up with it,
but I have a feeling she wouldn't if I allowed it to go on. Although I have had good luck with two girls
together, I think in this case both girls will do better with a male companion. Actually, if someone had a
MAS attack, I think Blackie would do well with either of the girls.
I lowered all the dog door flaps at the kennel so they could get used to the sound and feel of them.
They all went in and out with no problem, so hopefully that will help with mine at home.
Sidney
8/4/03
I moved Blackie and Nina over here from the kennel on Sunday and closed out
the account. So far, no problems between Blackie & the boyz. Nina thought
she would try a little dominance move on Miss Rose, which was quickly and
decisively quelled without violence. Rose told Nina loudly to fergettabout
it!! and Nina, smart cookie, immediately went into submissive mode
(meanwhile looking at me with a twinkle in her eye ... "Ok ... I'll let the
long, tall girl think she's the boss").
The home gang now kind of just
rolls their eyes and says, "Oh, my God ... she's brought some more in."
Sidney
More about Southwest Airedale Terrier Rescue
