A WONDERFUL report on California GRACIE comes through on 24 August:

It's been five weeks since GRACIE entered our lives . . . and now we can't imagine our lives without her.

The first few days she was cautiously friendly but quiet, tentative . . . rather withdrawn as she evaluated her surroundings. She cried at night in her sleep, seeming to have nightmares and woke often in a panicked state. We then moved into a period of Separation Anxiety where she would howl outside during the times we were gone . . . or so said my neighbor. We quickly addressed this, seeking advice from our vet and friends who are trainers. We changed our behavior from one of sheer excitement to see her when we did come home, to one of acknowledgment without making it a big deal. The theory is then that it becomes a Non Event for us coming and going. We also gave her Rescue Remedy that second week. It's a natural, herbal relaxant. We leave a light on and the TV . . . Animal Planet, of course.

We took her to the vet that first weekend where she was deemed extremely healthy at 72 pounds. Her right eye is still irritated. We plan to have it corrected when one of us can stay home fulltime for a week since she will have to wear a[n e-]collar again.

All of this came together and GRACIE has now settled in to her "home" routine. She either sleeps on her giant down doggie bed next to our bed; or if one of us is gone, claims her right to that space and sleeps on our bed. And she sleeps like the dead and does not cry or awake in the middle of the night. She doesn't snore but we are challenged by her desire to sleep horizontally versus people-oriented vertically. We always wake to Doggie Kisses and the thumping of her tail. She has us trained to walk her before we leave in the morning --- to check our the current smells of the day.

She has claimed the family room love seat as Hers, and spends her idle time snoozing there. She is a champ at her doggie door now but she only uses her potty place if she absolutely has to! I am happy to say that since that first day, she has not made any mistakes in the house. She is very clean and has a gentle orientation to everything -- unlike our last dog who was a bulldozer. She loves the deck and keeps watch for the deer and squirrels who are always passing by. I have learned the Airedale cry --- Bark! Bark! Howl! Bark! Bark! Howl! used to let everyone know she's on guard duty.

She loves her dog walker/puppy sitter and every dog she has met. Her mantra is "Come Play with Me" and is open to every dog of any size, breed or color. She believes the backseat of our cars were made expressly for her . . . for us to chauffeur her around, with the A/C on . . . not the windows open! She loves going to the barn and has become Best Friends with a Jack Russell -- Yoda; and a Rottweiller -- Samson. We haven't taken her out on the trails yet, but she seems happy enough to wait for us at the barn with her friends.

She is not a Jumper . . . which was a concern of ours. In fact, she struggles to jump into the back of our SUV and uses the side door where she can climb up. She's a Digger! She got out once, deciding to go two doors down to play with her little friend. We fixed that in a hurry! But she doesn't take off, stays in front of the house, or walks slightly ahead of us.

GRACIE is Ken's Little Girl as I suspected she would be. It's not a pretty sight to see a grown man turn to putty over this 72-pound puppy but he does! People have guessed her to be a Giant Schnauzer, Bouvier, or Kerry Blue . . . but he's always proud to say She's a Special Airedale imported from Arizona!

Sidney, she is perfect for us and I don't think any of the three of us could be happier! Thanks for all the work you and the Rescue Group does.