The following people are currently involved in the Rescue of the Black Almost-Airedale from Hawaii:
1. Elizabeth Bush - expert in black Airedales, resident of Hawaii, will be receiving the dog to get him to safety and medical evaluation.
2. Connie Turner - Oregon Airedale Rescue contact, potential next stop, and experienced with dogs needing amputations.
3. Cheryl Silver - also an experienced rescue volunteer and knowledgeable regarding leg injuries and amputations. Cheryl is in Texas.
4. Karen Luke - Karen lives in Wahiawa, Hawaii. She is on board to help as needed and has local vet contacts.
5. Joey Fineran - past President of Airedale Rescue, has offered to fund transportation costs to get the dog to treatment.
6. Courtney & Ryan Gustafson - good Samaritans who found this dog in need and could not look the other way.
7. Evie Fieseler - has offered to adopt this boy sight unseen. She has experience with special needs dogs of many types. Evie lives in Florida.
8. Andréa Denninger - Andréa chronicles many needy dogs on her website. She has offered her skills and fundraising abilities.
9. Sidney Hardie - Vice-President of National Airedale Rescue. I have included Sidney as the official voice of NAR in this case. I have removed myself from that role due to my emotional investment in this dog.
10. Christine Sheffer- President of National Airedale Rescue (that's me)
Important fact one - This poor dog does not officially have a name. The Gustafson's told me today that they are calling him Ikaika (Hawaiian for "strong"). Evie has been calling him Kekoa which means "the courageous" and Aka which means "shadow". I'm going to call him Ikaika Kekoa because he will need to be both strong & courageous.
The hard facts: This guy is not an Airedale of either the black/tan variety or the black variety. He is a mixed breed. The description I got from the vet and shelter staff of him being an Airedale is incorrect. Elizabeth was able to get more information during her call today. This means that National Airedale Rescue cannot pay for his care out of our treasury. By our charter, those monies can only be used to treat purebred Airedales.
However, even with this stumbling block, I believe that many people will continue to support his cause and donate monies. I am personally willing to within reason make sure that his needs are covered. My pockets are not deep but my heart is committed to this one.
Evie is willing to care for him whether he is a mixed breed, an Airedale, or any combination. So he does have at least one forever home in the picture. She is also realistic and would understand if he were able to get a home closer to Hawaii than Florida.
Ikaika Kekoa's left front leg is badly injured. Dr. Schultz reports an abscess and infection in the joint. An amputation is not out of the question. He really needs to see a good vet for a medical treatment plan.
He is also significantly underweight at only 33 pounds. He has a neck injury which is healing.
He is being neutered as I write this. He has a long road to go to be healthy. He has not been tested for heartworm which may be another issue.
The vet described him as having a good soul and being a nice dog.
I have called Dell's Feed and Seed and ordered a crate for him to travel in. It is paid for and Lisa at the Humane Society of Kauai has been notified of this fact.
He needs to get out of the shelter ASAP.
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