ROCKY AT HOME! 19 OCTOBER 2010

Debbie writes: JOY & TREPIDATION Each & every Tuesday & Thursday, Rocky & I load into the SUV for the one-hour trip to Winston-Salem so that Rocky can attend Physical Therapy. My heart leaps with joy for him each time we make this trip simply because Rocky is ABLE to go. Seven months ago I wasn't sure that we would make it this far. He is such a champion for what he has endured. He has walked this journey that he didn't choose for himself without so much as one complaint or growl when we asked him to do something that was less than comfortable. Rocky undergoes electric stimulation; he is rocked back & forth on a ball; he works on strengthening his core (I hate crunches); and does underwater treadmill exercises. At the end of the day , when he walks up his handicap ramp to get back in the SUV for the one-hour trip home, he is exhausted. We rarely make it out of the parking lot before he is sound asleep. Most of you know that Rocky came to NCAR the beginning of March 2010 with a badly broken leg. We've had months of trepidation since then. The endless waiting. Waiting for doctors to call, waiting for blood tests to come back, waiting for numerous surgeries to be over, waiting for any sign of infection, waiting for it all to be over. I'll never forget the first time Rocky went to have the external fixators removed. I was so excited for him. I waited all day for the surgeon to call saying they were off and I could come pick him up. The call I received informed me that I could in fact come pick him up, but that because Rocky was such a "knucklehead", they had decided it was in his best interest to leave the fixator in place for another four weeks. I was devastated. Not so much because it was going to be another month but because they called him a ÒknuckleheadÓ. I cried, and Rocky & I stopped for yogurt on our way home. In all honesty, he IS a bit of a knucklehead, but that's a word only a Mom can use. Rocky is a typical young Airedale, completely full of himself. He's a good-looking dog and he knows it. He loves to be looked at & admired. He's also a bit of a knucklehead. He can get into mischief with the best of them; just turn your back for a minute if you don't believe me. We know for certain that he loves homemade lasagna, a nice warm cake just out of the oven, and he prefers filet mignon to a rib eye. He is also a guard dog extraordinaire. How daire you ring that doorbell. We keep telling him that it's the same old commercial on TV, but he can't hear us since he is busy barking at no one at the front door. Over the months our old man Andy (a former ATRA dog) has become Rocky's constant companion. When Rocky first came, Andy showed him the ropes. Sort of the ins & outs of what would be expected. Rocky was a slow learner, but Andy was diligent and it wasn't long before Rocky was able to mentor some of the newer dogs that came through our Rescue doors. We knew the time would come when we would begin the process of accepting applications for Rocky. I always knew he would be leaving for his furever home. Some of our friends & all of our families believed we would keep Rocky forever, but I know that wouldn't be fair to him. Applications came and were screened. Finally we met Ed & Anne. They exceeded every expectation that I had for a prospective family for Rocky. They saw beyond Rocky's disability and weren't fazed by it at all. Additionally, they weren't looking to adopt a handicapped dog to gain kudos for themselves. They were just looking for an Airedale since their beloved Buster had crossed the Rainbow Bridge recently. Ed & Anne came for a visit and fell in love with Rocky, A few weeks later we took Rocky to visit with them at their home and final arrangements were made. There were doctors' reports to gather, physical therapy to finish up and good-byes to be said. Rocky has made many friends here and he couldn't leave without saying good-bye to each one of them. Two weeks later, it was with some trepidation that I took Rocky to what would be his final physical therapy appointment under the auspices of being a Rescue dog. Ed & Anne were going to meet me for lunch and we were all going to pick Rocky up at the end of the day and load him into their van; Rocky would be going home. When we arrived for Rocky's pick up, we were escorted into an exam room for our meeting with the therapists. I could hear Rocky coming down the hall and he reacted as he always does when he first sees his people. Sort of like a KNUCKLEHEAD. Only it wasn't ME he was fawning over. It was his new Mom & Dad. Rocky was so happy to see them. I think that Rocky chose them to be his new family instead of the other way around. Ed & Anne have decided to continue with Rocky's therapy at their own expense for the immediate future. I wish them all the best with their new boy. I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart for taking on this challenge. I loved him well and I miss him, but Rocky is home and he is so very happy. I would be remiss if I didn't thank National Airedale Rescue & all of the people who donated to NCAR & NAR for Rocky's medical expenses. Sometimes it takes a village to rehab an Airedale. Here is Rocky on the front steps of his new castle being attended to by his new subjects. HA . . . WHAT A DOG! SALLY SCHNELLMANN: Oh, Debbie - It brought tears to my eyes as I read the latest report on Rocky and his new people. What a wonderful job you have done . . . we never know, when we take in a rescue, what a long and involved job may lie ahead. Many are easy and stay with us a few days or a week, and they can be on their way to their new home. Some take longer, and some, like Rocky, move into our hearts and our lives for the long-term. I know this boy has a special place in your heart that will stay forever. It's challenging and, sometimes, I'm sure you've wondered, " How did I ever get into this!?" But you did it, and take a bow. You've earned it! Your reward stands proudly in the photo of Rocky with his new people. EVIE FIESELER: Wonderful! THANKS, Debbie!! Thanks so much. Rocky is home, that's clear from that stunning photo! What a proud and happy boy! MAUREEN SCOTT: Another Airedale Rescue fairy tale with a happy ending! Kudos to you, Debbie, for managing this whole medical situation so well and to . . . um . . . Knucklehead . . . for being . . . a typical Airedale!

ROCKY HAS AN INFECTION HERE