Sidney continues her report:

My Tucson adopters are responding ... many of them have said they will stop by to give the Airedales some love. Here's one report:

I went to see them! They are SOO cute! I kept changing my mind as to which one I was falling in love with! There was another couple visiting when I was there and they were very nice (I didn't catch THEIR names, but they have an Airedale named Ruby - of course, I did get their dog's name!). The male, named BUDDY [SAM], that looks most like an Airedale reminds me of Dalton. He even gives hugs the same way leaning his forehead against your belly. Daley gives hugs like that but she is so big and rough! The two males that just got neutered were pretty spunky and one even did a playbow (we didn't go in their kennels). They look like giant schnauzers! I also loved the female next to BUDDY [SAM] that was ungroomed and by herself - she has the sweetest disposition once she warms up to you. The two 'wild ones' were funny - they would be very friendly as long as you stayed outside the kennel, but were very shy and only licked my hand while I was inside. Then the two older? black ones shouldn't be hard to find homes - they were both very friendly and sweet.

I guess BUDDY [SAM] and the female next to him are my favorites. I can't commit until I get to interact with the other two males. Maybe I can talk Dave into fostering. They were farther along than I thought they would be. I wish I could take them all home!

[Note: The "female next to BUDDY" is actually poor CHARLIE. CHARLIE is very hard to tell apart from LESLIE & GRACE (whom she refers to as the "two wild ones." There is no doubt they are littermates.] ADOPTED!!

[Note 2: BLACKIE & INDY were neutered yesterday. Poor INDY had a retained testical, so they had to dig a little deeper, but he's fine. BLACKIE & INDY were with the rescuer in Ajo, but I decided I just couldn't stand to have them two hours away, so even though the rescuer was kenneling them for free, I decided to kennel them here so I can work with them.]

. . . and here's another report:

John & I just returned from petting the orphaned Airedale Terriers. A young girl came to do the same about the time we were nearly completing our pet time. They really need love. We will be going back again. The gentleman in the office was very accommodating - a lovely man. The dogs seem to be well-cared-for. Each one has an Airedale personality.

I have a great foster home! She has been around Airedales for 25 years and takes care of one of my friend's Airedales whenever she is out of town. When she retired last year, she meant to sign up with the Humane Society as a foster home, but never quite got around to it . . . lucky for me! We are going to visit with the Airedales tomorrow to decide which one she will foster first.

Things are definitely looking up!

Jocelyn sent me an update on SISSY:

SISSY, the scared one, is so happy to see a new face, runs to gate to be stroked. I bring her in at night on a leash, walking better every night, lacks confidence. I try to make our walk longer each night. I have people coming tomorrow; new faces program, to walk with everyone. ADOPTED!!

And on 13 July, Sidney reports:

SISSY (now known as RUBY) will be going home to be a pal to an 11-week-old Cairn Terrier.

Sidney reports on 23 June:

I've spent a couple of hours every day with the eight Airedales in Tucson and thought you might like an update.

My Tucson adopters have been great. I sent out an email to everyone and every time I go to the kennel, either someone is there visiting with the Airedales, or the owners tell me that someone just left.

THE BOYS

INDY has gone to a great foster home -- yay! He is such a sweetheart. He's just a little nervous about new people, but warms up quickly and is very affectionate. He has to be encouraged to walk along on a leash, but he's not bad. His foster mom doesn't have any dogs, but has neighbors and friends with dogs who will come to play with INDY after he settles in and she will take him to puppy classes. ADOPTED!!

BLACKIE will be a great dog with some leash work. He's very affectionate with all people. I'm guessing 3-5 years old . . . great teeth, ears, eyes, tail, coat and conformation. Completely black except for a white patch on his chest. Once the feathers grow back on his legs, he is going to be really handsome. He was neutered on Thursday. Heartworm/ehrlichia/Lymes negative. Up-to-date on shots, microchipped. He is ready to adopt except he marks EVERYTHING! They have a towel draped over the inside gate because he will pee into the aisle. Everyone else seems to know to go outside to do all their business. ADOPTED!!

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. 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. When I told him that we were evaluating everyone to see who should be fostered in this home, he said, "They aren't going to take BUDDY, are they?" I think BUDDY is probably about 4-5. ADOPTED!!

CHARLIE's a little nervous, but good with people. He responds to you when you call him, enjoys being petted and isn't too hard to get to walk on a leash. He knows "sit" with a lure and almost went into a down with a lure and I was even heeling with him a little bit as he watched the string cheese. ADOPTED!!

CHARLIE
ADOPTED!!

I didn't get to observe what would happen if he were with the pack, but when he saw another dog in the training yard, it looked like he wanted to go play with him. He's a very pretty red boy. I think he is probably calm enough to groom, so I hope to get that done this week and some pictures. Once he is neutered, it is going to be impossible to tell him from GRACE & LESLIE except by behavior. I'm going to have to color code them somehow. I think the three red dogs are probably littermates and probably about 2-3 years old.

THE GIRLS

ERNESTINE is a great dog. She is very affectionate and not at all nervous around people. She pulls on the leash. It's hard to put an age on her. Her body is thick from many puppies and being overweight, but her face and actions are young. Her teeth in front are worn down, but otherwise strong and white (they all have great teeth). She has goopy eyes, so is allergic to something, but there is no evidence of itchy skin. I guess I would stick with approximately eight years old, but in very good shape for that age. ADOPTED!!

NINA -- what a cutie. 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 two years. ADOPTED!!

GRACE & LESLIE -- there is very little to choose between them. GRACE is marginally braver than LESLIE. They both love to see new people . . . as long as you are on the other side of the fence. They run when you come inside the kennel, but GRACE will eventually tolerate a little petting. They freeze when you try to walk them on a leash. ADOPTED!!

To which Linda Cunningham replies:

It's not fair to make a girl cry when she's at work! What a wonderful report. I just wish I was in the area so I could come and sit with GRACE & LESLIE and just visit them.

Thank you for the update on the kids.