In September 2004, the fateful day arrives,
and Kirby goes to his Forever Home . . .

. . . which includes Finlay the Cairn Terrier - what more could a Wire Fox Terrier want?! Rita writes: I was impressed by this couple; Katie grew up with Foxys, her folks have a Westie and Jamie's folks have an Airedale . . . so they know the terrier's devious ways.

Rita writes: Finlay is a year old. I'm telling you, the two young terriers were crazy happy chasing jumping running rolling nonstop. After an hour & a half, they did lie down next to each other like two buds. I think Finlay will be in charge.

Rita writes: I sure do miss his funny face! I think Toby does, too. He just hung around in the bed this morning when I was getting ready instead of playing in the bathroom like usual.

Rita writes: Katie emailed me that they are like the Royals . . . Kirby is a gentleman like William & Finlay is crazy wild like Harry. I'll have to take her word for that . . . well, they are Canadian and I suppose the Royals are more interesting than our papers full of Britney Spears.

On 18 March 2005, Rita writes: My King of Hearts

Waldo passed over the Rainbow Bridge today. He is airesnapping, grabbing treats, highjumping, and humping to his heart's content. He left me suddenly and unexpectedly. He ate a hearty breakfast, jumped on me when I left for work and was in fine spirits.

Sometime in the morning, he had a massive bleed in his abdomen, probably a tumor on his spleen. When I came home for lunch, he was breathing very heavily and unable to stand. We went to the vet and helped him find his way to breathing easy over that Bridge.

When Waldo was found in a shelter in Ohio, it was his second experience with Airedale rescue. Luckily, Barbara Mann rescued him and after eye surgery and some R&R with Lynda Dziedzic, he came to me. It was love at first sight. There was nothing anyone could say to discourage me about his "special needs". He was five years old then and he celebrated his 12th birthday in January. He was my precious boy for seven short years.

Over time, he learned to welcome many foster cousins into his pack, but Waldo told them all that HIS bones and HIS food and HIS treats were not to be tampered with. Waldo loved to dress up. He had a full wardrobe of headgear: bunny ears, antlers, devil horns, santa hat, mouse ears, sports caps and lots of bandanas. He was a hamboneŃ

Waldo's best talent was his AIRESNAPS. He had a different style of SNAP for many occasions: I'm Happy to See You, Time to Eat, Get Away from my Bone, Let me Outside. He was also very proficient at COUNTERSURFING. The first surprising victim of this skill was a whole cantaloupe which he grabbed from the back of the counter and managed to bring into the dining room on the rug to eat with great gusto. Melon pieces became his favorite treat.

Waldo taught me to love the Airedale breed especially for their rascally tricks and sense of humor. He got me involved with ATRA (and then on to Wire Fox Terrier Rescue) and added a whole new dimension to my life. His unending love and high jinks have kept my life in balance. Waldo will be in my heart forever.

CONTINUE WITH THE FERRER PACK HERE