Buster's Story
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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. Buddy/Sam/Buster was one of the 8.
6/3/03
The nice male is very nice
indeed and would be quite handsome had his ears been set and tail docked
properly, actually he's better looking than a lot I've seen in the show ring
lately. Kathie
6/10/03
Black & tan male @ 4-5 yrs old, handsome but with flying nun ears and stub tail, very nice dog,
will sit on command and shake, eager to please, I don't know if he'll ever
be housebroken, he marks EVERYTHING. Kathie
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
Sam, who has been called Buddy by the folks in Phoenix, is a WONDERFUL dog
... what a great obedience dog he would make. He is so eager to do what you
want and knows "sit" and "shake." He does mark everything, but he is an
unaltered male with two females in heat, so it is understandable. I
think he is the most adoptable, so I may try him over here first after he is
neutered. I may not be able to have him here with Jack & Riley, but I'll
give it a try. Sidney
6/21/03
Buddy (Sam) is the most eager to please you. He wants to show you he can "sit" at all opportunities.
Whoever docked his tail really did a butcher job. It almost looks like it was hacked off with a knife
when he was an adult. However, he isn't sensitive about it (I mean, it doesn't give him any pain,
although he also isn't embarrassed by it ;->
) He's regulation black and tan. He's all boy, but isn't
the marker that Blackie is, so hopefully he won't be too hard to housetrain once he is neutered.
The trainer obviously likes Buddy a lot. I told him that we were evaluating everyone to see who should
be fostered in this home and he said, "They aren't going to take Buddy, are they?" as I went by.
I think Buddy is probably about 4-5. 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. Buddy boy was great ... checking out the field and bounding
happily back whenever I called. Sidney
6/26/03
Buddy is being neutered today. 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.
Buddy had the loose flap on his ear removed (as well as his testicles) so he
is wearing a cone for the next seven days. 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
6/28/03
From the 5-minute pees he is taking in the training yard when I go to see
the dogs, I think poor Buddy must be holding it until I get there. I have
this image of him crossing his legs saying, "When is she going to get
here!!" He is such a lover. He would like to be a lap dog and likes
nothing better than to have you stroke him. Sidney
7/3/03
Buddy will be going to a foster home this weekend, with the intention that
he will be adopted if it works out. Sidney
7/9/03
All is going very well. I am actually walking Buster ( name change due to
next door neighbor with Buddy) am and pm. (I have walked in my neighborhood
more in the last 5 days than I have in the last 5 years! Buster is a good
influence on me.) He is much less scared of sudden moves and changes. He
still seems to not like jingle sounds and I must say when I cranked up my
radio he did not like that. He is eating well- he practically swallows his
food in 2 minutes although if I stay by him and pet him he seems to slow
down a bit and actually chew the food. He absolutely does not like cats. I
took the ecollar off and am monitoring his incision. He goes into his crate
on his own at night. When I leave for work in the morning he is somewhat
reluctant. He still shies away from new people but can warm up to them in a
couple minutes. He must have had training as he comes when I call him in
the house and sits right in front of me and he is very good on the leash. I
am very happy with the whole thing. I am wanting to work up to not having
to crate him when I am at work.
It really has been wonderful so far. I can tell he is getting more
comfortable and wonder if this honeymoon will end soon and he will get more
mischievous. We'll see. I'll keep you informed.
Melinda
7/31/03
Life just gets better and better with Buster. We've had another breakthrough.
Buster is now Mr. Sociable. Can't believe it! I started noticing his increased
interest in the people and dogs on our walks and he would get excited as a two or
four-legged would come into view. I wonder if seeing you on Saturday reminded him
of how far he's come from life on the streets and shelter and you were so nice to him
when he was down on his luck. The separation anxiety I know he has been dealing with
is diminishing. And then those bone treats. On Sunday he "encouraged" me to let him
go up to an elderly woman taking out her garbage. He went right up and gave that
"pet me" look. She gladly accommodated and then told me about an Airedale her brother
had years ago. Had a pleasant chat and moved on. The next day he wanted to approach
another woman and again got some nice pats. Tuesday there was a group of 3 adults (1 man)
and 2 dogs. Buster saw them 100 feet away and just got excited and could hardly contain
himself as they approached. He just wanted more pets and say hello to the dogs.
(I have relaxed quite a bit with letting him say hi and I'm sure he has picked upon this)
Then yesterday my neighbor was coming home as we started our evening walk and he stopped
in front of her driveway and did not want to leave until she came over to say hi. He had
met her when he first came to my home. Boy, does he know how to be just oh so cute and pettable.
I have also worked a little more with the walking on the leash- when he starts pulling I just
reverse and go in the opposite direction. After 4 or 5 times of this he gets the message
and does not pull. I am so aware of his desire just to please. I told a friend Buster and
I are developing an agreement. I will treat him very well (i.e. daily massages) and he
will treat me well. His playfulness is emerging more and more. There was one other interesting
experience. There was a lot of dog commotion down the street and Buster, in the house,
got stirred up and barked. We then started on our walk and a woman and her dog were
approaching. I asked if her dog was friendly and she said sometimes she is and sometimes
she is not. The dog was totally pulling her along and I decided not to let Buster say hi.
As they walked away Buster moaned and cried a little. Sat and then laid down in that
sphinx-like position as if he were in pain. I wondered if the female dog was in heat
considering the commotion she created in her wake. What do you think?
Melinda
8/6/03
Had an interesting experience Monday night. I was making dinner and then ate in the living room.
Buster left the room but did not want to come out from the side of the house where his "room" is even
as I tried to coax him after I finished my meal. He certainly did not want to come into the living room.
The kitchen and back room were totally out of the question. The next morning I had to bring him to the
back room for him to eat and then he skulked about-wanted to get out of there and away from the kitchen
as soon as possible. He really seemed traumatized. I can not pinpoint what triggered him but wonder if
it was the food I was cooking (lamb patty and asparagus) as I have not cooked meat in the house since he
came home with me. He certainly was sniffing around like he was on to something, almost like there was
a strange person or animal who invaded HIS space. The only other thing is during my cooking my nephew
called. I have a less than gracious attitude towards him given his unrelenting addiction to meth.
Although I did not yell over the phone I certainly had a serious edge to my voice and did hang up on him.
So I wonder if Buster sensed my annoyance/anger with my nephew.
He was better yesterday and today, but still does not "like" being in the kitchen. I'll be interested
to see how he is when I get home tonight.
I saw a reference to Tellington Touch in one of your writings and went on the web site. Very interesting.
What I realized is the massaging I have been doing with Buster seems to be very similar to TTouch moves.
Its very interesting.
That's it for now.................................
Melinda
8/15/03
Buster has gotten over his freakiness. It was the frying pan as it happened again but he
recovered from it within 1 day.
Melinda
9/14/03
Buster's mom used the
MarkOut
product (looks like an Ace bandage you wrap around
their waist when they are inside) and he never made a single mistake. Of
course, neutering him made the biggest difference. I took him for some walks while
she was out of town for a few days and he is just about the nicest Airedale
I have met.
Sidney
1/22/2004
It has been a wild couple of months with work and what not but wanted
to let you know how wonderful Buster has been and continues to be.
Finally started training. Will fill you in more. I feel so lucky
that Buster's misfortune become my (and his) fortune.
Melinda
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