KELLIE UPDATE

14 DECEMBER 2010

Deb writes:
IT'S HARD TO KEEP A GOOD AIREDALE DOWN!

I apologize right up front for not having any pictures for you this evening. I just wanted to let everyone know how our girl is doing.

Notice I write OUR. I often end my letters & notes to adopters or people in the rescue community with this saying: "It takes a village." If you think Hillary Clinton coined that phrase in 1996, you're wrong. It is actually an old Nigerian proverb and the basic meaning is that raising a child is a communal effort. I now share this school of thought and say often that it takes a village to raise and/or rescue an Airedale. This has certainly proved to be the situation where Kellie is concerned. It has taken a village to save her life and you all saved it in a big way.

How often have you said to someone in describing your dog that s/he is larger than life? I love the way Maureen describes one of her dogs, "The Littlest Lunatic." Kellie may fit that bill. She is little, but boy, oh boy, she has turned into a MIGHTY DOG.

The vets at NC State told me on Wednesday that we should notice an improvement in her right away. What they failed to warn us about is that we would have 32 pounds of PUPPY wake up from anesthesia. The transformation has been amazing to watch. I can hardly wrap my mind around the fact that two weeks ago, we were feeding her with a spoon and she wouldn't lift her up head. Now, I have to beg for a little computer time of my own.

Suffice it to say that she continues on the road to recovery. We are forced by doctors' orders to make sure that she remains quiet. Leash walks only and plenty of rest. While we believe the surgery was a complete success, I have been counseled to follow the doctors' instructions, which I am trying to do, Auntie Elizabeth.

I hope to have a longer update for you tomorrow with some pictures that were taken last week. Lee is the photographer in the family and he's out of town for a couple of days. WARNING . . . after tomorrow's update, there won't be any news coming for a couple of weeks. Kellie will be with another NCAR volunteer over the Howlidays while we are traveling. When we return, I will be updating you as soon as I can.

PAM SIMPSON:
Excellent. I have a connection with this dog - not sure how or why, but it is there. I am so happy she is feeling well enough to act like a puppy!

BOB ANDERSON:
What a true blessing that surgery was!

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